Tivoli Nature Preserve facts for kids

The Tivoli Nature Preserve, also known as Tivoli Park, is a special natural area in Albany, New York. It's the biggest urban nature preserve in the Capital District region. This means it's a large wild space right inside a city!

A Look at Tivoli's Past

Early Days and Water Supply

The land where Tivoli Preserve now sits was once owned by the Van Rensselaer family. This was part of a large land grant called a "patroonship." In 1844, the Tivoli Hollow Railroad was built. It ran through the area, connecting Fuller Road to the Albany Lumber District.

Around 1850, the city of Albany bought this land. Their plan was to build dams on Patroon Creek. This would create lakes to hold water for the city's public water system. By 1851, two lakes were formed: Upper and Lower Tivoli lakes. The upper lake stored water, and the lower one helped distribute it. These lakes provided water to parts of the city east of North Pearl Street.

Changes and Challenges

In the 1870s, there were ideas to extend Manning Boulevard. This road was supposed to go through the waterworks property. Some work was done, but the road was never fully completed as planned. The part inside the park was never finished.

After the city stopped using the lakes for water around 1900, the park was neglected. By the 1920s, it became a place where people illegally dumped trash. The lake became very polluted. Some even said it turned red from pollution from nearby meat processing plants.

A New Beginning

In 1957, the city decided to turn the old waterworks area into the Tivoli Lakes Nature Study Sanctuary. However, by 1974, the area was again in poor condition. A local newspaper even wrote a fake "obituary" for the park, saying it had "died."

Things changed for the better in 1998. As part of a legal agreement, the state provided money for a big clean-up. The preserve was also upgraded to become an educational center. This project worked with the nearby Philip Livingston Middle School.

Future Plans: The Patroon Path

A new project called the Patroon Path was suggested in 2002. This will be a wide path, about 10-foot (3.0 m) across. It will start at the Corning Preserve by the Hudson River. Then it will go west through the Tivoli Preserve, following Patroon Creek. The path will continue past Interstate 90 (I-90) to Rensselaer Lake and the Pine Bush Preserve.

What You Can Do and See

Wildlife in the Preserve

Tivoli Preserve is home to many different animals. In Tivoli Lake, you can find fish like bluegill, largemouth bass, and pumpkinseed.

Many birds also live here. You might spot woodpeckers, turkeys, red-winged blackbirds, and red-tailed hawks. Mammals like squirrels, deer, and opossums also make their homes in the preserve.

Fun Activities

The preserve is a great place for nature walks. Many people enjoy birdwatching here, trying to spot all the different bird species.

There is also a large community garden within Tivoli Preserve. It's located behind the Livingston Village Apartments. This garden has 70 plots, making it Albany's biggest community garden. People can grow their own plants and food there.